Delaware
Car dealers worry about the low demand for electric vehicles in Delaware
You may be able to receive your EV tax credit at point of sale in 2024
Electric vehicles, EVs and car charging stations are becoming more popular. Scripps News has learned there may be a tax policy change for EVs in 2024.
Scripps News
Delaware’s car dealerships are facing new challenges as they prepare for an influx of electric vehicles in the state.
When DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin officially approved the clean car regulations in November, much of the burden was placed on dealers and car manufacturers, who will be tasked with delivering an increasing amount of electric vehicles to Delaware between 2026 and 2032.
Buyers are under no obligation to purchase an electric vehicle.
Car dealerships and their employees around the country are voicing concerns about the mandates, and Delaware dealerships are no different.
Even though some manufacturers are already shipping fewer gas-powered cars to Delaware, dealers say the demand for electric vehicles seems to be lacking so far.
More: Your questions, answered: What you need to know about state’s new electric vehicle mandate
Too much supply, not enough demand
In November, nearly 4,000 car dealerships nationwide penned a letter to President Biden’s administration to slow down the progress of electric vehicle mandates nationwide. Four Delaware dealerships signed on to this letter including Newark Toyota World, Price Acura, Price Honda and Price Toyota.
A rule was proposed in April by the federal Environmental Protection Agency that would hold automakers to more stringent emissions standards on new vehicles, which would essentially require electrification of most fleets.
“Today the supply of unsold [battery electric vehicles] is surging, as they are not selling nearly as fast as they are arriving at our dealerships, even with steep price cuts, manufacturer incentives and generous government incentives,” the letter says.
More: Delaware is growing. First State has 6th biggest per capita population bump in US
Surplus of electric vehicles in dealership lots has already become an issue in Delaware.
As early as May of this year, Santosh Viswanathan, chairman of legislative affairs for the Delaware Automobile and Truck Dealers’ Association and CEO of Lakeshore Chrysler Dodge Jeep and Ram in Seaford, was told that Jeep would no longer be supplying his dealership with the popular Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee. Instead, they would only send over the electric versions of these models for the dealership’s floor plan.
Chip Sheridan, president of the Delaware Automobile and Truck Dealers Association and owner of Sheridan Nissan and Ford in New Castle and Wilmington, stated that he has had an estimated 30 Ford Mustang Mach-Es unsold on his showroom floor for around a month.
The letter called for the Biden administration to allow states the time to build out charging infrastructures, for manufacturers to find domestic material sources and for consumers to get acclimated to the technology and changes that electric vehicles require.
How will dealerships change course?
Now that clean car regulations are officially enacted, there are many factors that vehicle dealers need to grapple with.
For one, the mandate only requires car manufacturers to send over an increasing number of electric vehicles to Delaware, beginning with 43% of new cars in model year 2027 increasing to 82% by 2032.
There is no guarantee that these cars will be sold or registered in the state, and based on the relative scarcity of demand in Delaware for electric vehicles, dealers are wary about betting on an increased number of batteries on the road.
More: Your buyer’s guide for an electric vehicle in Delaware, including rebates and deadlines
Sheridan worries that the mandate could lead to Delawareans going to nearby states like Pennsylvania, which does not hold itself to a clean car regulation, to buy the non-electric vehicle of their choice and then registering it in Delaware.
Affordability also continues to be an issue. According to July 2023 Kelley Blue Book values, the average price for a new internal combustion engine vehicle in the U.S. was around $48,000 while a new electric vehicle averaged around $53,000.
Incentives are in place, both at the federal and statewide levels, but they’re usually only applicable for vehicles under $50,000, which most electric vehicles don’t fall under, at least for now.
Projections have estimated that electric vehicles should even out with gas cars in the coming years, and prices have already changed drastically. Despite the higher current price, the average electric vehicle price has dropped by 16% over the past year, according to Kelley Blue Book.
More: This Delaware musician helped put Travis Kelce alongside Taylor Swift on Billboard’s charts
“We’ve seen prices fluctuate so much over the last few years, I couldn’t even begin to guess what or when that would take place,” Sheridan said.
According to Sheridan, becoming an electric vehicle dealer requires steep investments to install chargers for different car models. Some state dealers have spent around $5 million just on installation and other equipment.
What needs changing?
Charging infrastructure is a major hurdle for Delaware to keep up with the influx of electric cars it’s looking to employ. Public chargers are often busy and don’t have maintenance standards in place to make sure they’re working at all times.
To Sheridan, one of the biggest things that will have to change is consumer attitudes. Electric vehicles are in supply, but demand isn’t up to speed.
Habits that work with combustion engine vehicles aren’t always transferrable. Charging, at least for now, needs to be planned in advance to ensure there’s enough range on the car.
“I have to hope that 43% of the people in the state want to buy electric cars,” Sheridan said. “Having an excess of inventory does not solve our problem.”
Contact Molly McVety at mmcvety@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @mollymcvety.
Delaware
Delaware woman charged in Jersey shore hit-and-run that injured 92-year-old man
VENTNOR, N.J. (WPVI) — A Delaware woman is behind bars in connection with a hit-and-run crash in November at the Jersey shore.
(The video in the player above is from previous coverage.)
The incident happened around 6:16 p.m. on Nov. 20 in Ventnor, New Jersey.
READ MORE | Video shows Jersey shore hit-and-run crash that left 92-year-old injured
Police said the 92-year-old victim was struck at Ventnor and Newport avenues. He sustained serious injuries and was transported to an area hospital.
Investigators said the driver, Leslie Myers, 51, of Weldin Park, Delaware, fled the scene after the crash.
She was arrested Wednesday on charges of assault by auto, leaving the scene of an accident and other related offenses.
Myers is being held in the Allegheny County Jail in Pennsylvania, awaiting extradition to New Jersey.
Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Delaware
Delaware announces plan to tackle climate warming emissions
This story is part of the WHYY News Climate Desk, bringing you news and solutions for our changing region.
From the Poconos to the Jersey Shore to the mouth of the Delaware Bay, what do you want to know about climate change? What would you like us to cover? Get in touch.
Delaware’s top environmental regulators have proposed steps to reduce climate-warming fossil fuel pollution, while protecting residents from threats like extreme heat and floods.
The state’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control on Wednesday released its 2025 Climate Action Plan. The nonbinding proposal outlines a path to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, as required by the state’s Climate Change Solutions Act.
Officials said Delaware residents continue to experience the impacts of climate change including severe storms like the 2021 Hurricane Ida, which forced people out of their homes, with some remaining unhoused a year later. In addition, sea level rise and beach erosion has flooded coastal communities and damaged critical infrastructure.
“Flooding, extreme storms and heat damage infrastructure that wasn’t built to withstand these conditions, including our energy systems,” said Susan Love, the agency’s climate and sustainability section administrator. “Sea level rise is drowning wetlands and uplands, and impacting water quality and availability. Damage from storms has increased costs for infrastructure and insurance coverage, and all of these impacts can negatively impact human health as well.”
Recommendations include strategies to reduce emissions from vehicles, industrial activities and electricity production — the source of the state’s top climate emissions.
The plan, which builds on similar goals set in 2021, comes as President Donald Trump’s administration has cut clean energy funding and prioritized U.S. reliance on fossil fuels.
“There is no doubt that the reduced funding in a lot of these areas from the federal government makes these goals and strategies harder to implement,” said DNREC Secretary Greg Patterson. “It is up to us to keep trying to work towards them, even knowing that it’s going to be a little harder to do without the federal resources that even a year ago we thought we could count on.”
Delaware officials plan to promote public transit, electric vehicles and clean hydrogen
The plan calls for increased bus and train ridership while improving access to electric vehicles and charging stations. Though lawmakers repealed a mandate that would have required manufacturers to produce a set number of electric vehicles, DNREC wants to expand programs that incentivize the optional sale of electric vehicles.
However, Love emphasized the state “can’t EV our way out of transportation emission.”
“A lot of work needs to be done as well to reduce the amount that we drive vehicles, by good land use choices, mass transit and making it easier for people to walk, bike and roll to their destinations,” she said.
Delaware
Can you legally ride e-bikes and scooters in Delaware
E-bikes alternative to cars for commuters top seller for bike shops
Eletric bikes are growing in popularity and have become a hot item in the bike industry. Bikes with motors are replacing cars for urban commuters.
Sure, cars and motorcycles are popular ways to get around. But if you can’t afford either one, an electric bike might save the day like Delaware’s own Superman.
Then again, is it legal to cruise around on an electric bike or electric scooter in Delaware?
Here’s a guide to help you stay out of trouble when traveling in the Small Wonder:
What are Delaware laws for riding electric bikes?
An electric bicycle may be ridden anywhere bicycles are allowed (unless posted otherwise), which includes streets, highways, roadways, shoulders and bicycle lanes.
Delaware prohibits anyone under the age of 16 from operating an electric bicycle, which features pedal assist only and tops off at 28 mph.
Difference between electric scooter, triped and moped explained
A motorized skateboard or scooter is any vehicle with two wheels on the ground, handlebars and a hand-controlled throttle or brake, designed to be stood or sat upon by the operator, according to Delaware law.
While mopeds and tripeds are similar in design and size, mopeds have two wheels and tripeds have three wheels.
Where can you legally ride motorized vehicles?
Delaware law states that motorized skateboards or scooters can be used on public streets or highways as long as they are in the neutral position or the powertrain function is disengaged. However, in Newark, you can be fined $100 for riding motorized scooters on streets and sidewalks.
Mopeds and tripeds are prohibited on interstates and operating railroads, according to the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles.
Do you need insurance for a triped or moped?
No motor vehicle insurance is required for operating a moped or triped, according to the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles.
What rules are there for riding a scooter?
Delaware state law states that a person cannot operate a motorized skateboard or scooter while under the influence of alcohol or any drug.
Are there license and registration requirements for electric bikes?
If you want to operate scooters, they must be tagged and registered by the Division of Motor Vehicles, and the operator must have a valid driver’s license.
The Delaware DMV states that a basic driver’s license is required to travel with a moped or triped on public roadways.
The state of Delaware does not have any licensing or registration requirements for electric bikes.
Who can legally ride an electric scooter?
The minimum age to operate a scooter is 16. No person under 12 can operate a scooter unless they are under adult supervision or a parent or legal guardian.
Is there a law for wearing a helmet on a motorized scooter or skateboard?
To operate a motorized skateboard or scooter, bicycle-type helmets are required for those under 16, according to Delaware State law.
If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters
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